expense account

American  

noun

1. an account of business expenditures, as travel, hotel room, meals, and entertainment connected with work, for which an employee will be reimbursed by an employer.

---

expense account British  

noun

1. an arrangement by which expenses incurred in the course of a person's work are refunded by his employer or deducted from his income for tax purposes

2. a record of such expenses

3. informal (modifier) paid for by an employer or by money allowable against tax

   an expense-account lunch

---

expense account Cultural  

1. An account or list of expenses incurred in doing business outside the office, part of which is a tax deduction. The term often applies to lunches or dinners at which business deals are made and clients entertained.

---

Etymology

Origin of expense account

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

That was too pricey for me and my expense account, so I booked a roomette.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

He could exasperate editors with his strongly held opinions and his prodigal ways with an expense account.

From New York Times • Jun. 6, 2024

When it did not, the bill was paid through the governor’s $95,000 annual expense account.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 1, 2023

In the late 1980s I was shown the financial summary of a CEO's expense account.

From Salon • Nov. 3, 2022

This was the boon of having a summer associate to advise: It was an excuse to eat out and eat well, and to do it on the firm’s expense account.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama